Yesterday I shared with you the wonderful truth that JESUS prays for you. That truth was a special blessing to me yesterday and through the night. In the midst of some exciting times at merica’s KESWICK there are some struggles that are taking place in people’s lives. There is
some unrest at the moment among the men of the Colony — grumblers and complainers. There are some staff that are going through some very difficult personal problems. And there are some issues that have come to light that I need to address today that will be tough to handle.

We had our the first of eight anniversary banquets last night and we pulled in the driveway around 10:45 PM. I decided to check my email and discovered that there were indeed some challenges that I was going to face today. Normally, I chew on this stuff and it impacts my ability to sleep. Last night as I crawled into bed, I reminded myself that there is ONE who never slumbers or sleeps and that HE is the ONE who is interceding for me. The Holy Spirit brought back to mind the verse from 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast ALL your cares upon HIM, for HE cares for you.” I slept!

This morning when I cracked open my devotional “DAILY LIGHT . . . ” which is just Scripture verses compiled for each day (no commentary) — guess what verse was in the middle of the page — 1 Peter 5:7. Listen to what Dr. Warren Wiersbe says in his commentary on 1 Peter: “One of the benefits of our relationship with God is the PRIVILEGE of letting Him take care of our burdens . . . The word translated ‘care’ means ‘anxiety, the state of being pulled apart.’ When circumstances are difficult, it is easy for us to be anxious and worried; but if we are,
we will miss God’s blessing and become poor witnesses to the lost. We need His inward peace if we are going to triumph in the fiery trial and bring glory to His name . . . We must ONCE AND FOR ALL give all our cares — past, present, and future — to the Lord. We must not HAND them to Him piecemeal, keeping those cares that we think WE can handle ourselves. If we keep the ‘little cares’ for ourselves, they will soon become BIG problems! Each time a new burden arises, we must by faith remind the Lord (and ourselves) that we have already turned it over to
Him . . . How does God show His love and care for us when we give our cares to Him? I believe that He performs four wonderful ministries on our behalf.

1. He give us COURAGE to face our cares HONESTLY and not run away (Isaiah 41:10).
2. He gives us the WISDOM to understand the situation (James 1:5).
3. He gives us the STRENGTH to do what we must do (Philippians 4:13).
4. He gives us the FAITH to trust HIM to do the rest (Psalm 37:5).

Some people give God their burdens and expect Him to do EVERYTHING! It is important that we let Him work IN us as well as work FOR us, so that we will be prepared WHEN the answer comes. ‘CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD and HE WILL SUSTAIN YOU!’ (Psalm 55:22) from THE BIBLE EXPOSITION COMMENTARY by Dr. Warren Wiersbe published by Victor Books. Good words for me and you today.

Over the years I have worked at trying not to make a promise to someone that I would pray for them. Why? I tend to have a poor “rememberer.” What I do try and do is pray for the person right on then so that I do not forget. Years ago, one of my mentors taught me the value of even
praying for someone on the phone. I then ask the Holy Spirit to bring back to my mind the people that I have prayed with. It is a precious privilege to pray with and intercede with others.

It is an encouragement to me when someone comes up to me or drops me a note to let me know that they are praying for me. Often those notes come at “just the right time.” But it is an even greater comfort to be reminded that there is SOMEONE else praying for us — JESUS CHRIST!

As I was reading the Word in my quiet time last week, two verses stood out from the DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH that reminded me of HIS prayer ministry in my life. There is a time in Peter’s life when Jesus reminded him that Satan had asked for Peter and wanted to “sift him as wheat.” And then Jesus says, “BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, THAT YOUR FAITH
SHOULD NOT FAIL.” (Luke 22:31-32)
The writer to the book of Hebrews reminds us that the ONE who sits at the right hand of the Father, “He always lives to make intercession for you!” (Hebrews 7:25) He is praying for you today, my friend! WOW! As our friend, Dr. Wendell Calder says, “That ought to get your exciter going or there is something wrong with your exciter!”

“Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in heaven; the Holy Spirit carries on intercession in us on earth; and we the saints, have to carry on intercession for all men!” — Oswald Chambers

Good words to ponder today!

1. Am I grieved by the sins that seem to ensnare me?
2. Do I lay my heart concerns before God as the only one who can cure me?
3. When was the last time I sensed the call of God in my life?
4. Do I scoff at those who speak of hearing God’s convictions and repent, as if I consider this a silly exercise?
5. Do I find myself increasingly uncomfortable around strong believers and even mock them because their lives make me feel guilty?
6. Do I often feel a twinge at the invitation hour and try to convince myself that stepping forward is an act of weakness? Do I wait for the feeling to subside?
7. Do I justify my ongoing sin by saying, “This is the way everyone lives”?

“A hardened heart, spiritually and physically, is no laughing matter. We do not accept the forgiveness of our sins purchased on Calvary and then scorn the one who calls us, convicts us, and challenges us.” If you are not convinced, read the biblical account of Nabal in 1 Samuel 25:1-39.

from “WHY CHURCHES DIE . . . Diagnosing Letha Poisons in the Body of Christ” by Mac Brunson and Ergun Caner, published by Broadman & Holman

It was published in our daily devotional, REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

“Heaven and earth may pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (Luke 21:33)

Our nation will never forget the day that changed our lives forever. Little did we realize how personal September 11th would be for the ministry of America’s KESWICK. Like many ministries, we were getting ready to begin a service of remembrance for our community, staff and the men of the Colony of Mercy. As I was preparing to walk to the Auditorium, I received word that this tragedy had impacted our ministry.

Don and Jean Peterson were actively involved with the ministry. In addition to being conference attendees, both were burdened for the Colony ministry. Don served for a number of years as a volunteer counselor and Jean became a faithful prayer warrior. Seeing Don’s passion and vision for the ministry, we invited Don to serve on our Board of Trustees. He was a man of purpose, determination, integrity and commitment.

The Petersons were scheduled to leave for California for a family reunion on the morning of September 11. Arriving early at the airport, they were bumped to an earlier flight. They were assigned to Flight 93 that crashed on a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Several months after the tragedy we heard that a Bible had been found at the crash site. Selfishly we were hoping that it belonged to Don or Jean. When the rescue teams arrived at the crash site, there were only two things visible – a tire and Don Peterson’s Bible. Tucked inside Don’s Bible was a list of men from the Colony of Mercy that he would be praying for during the trip. Don loved the Word of God. He believed that the Word was true and that it could change and transform lives. How about you? Do you love the Word of God? Are you spending time each day reading, meditating and memorizing the Word? It will change and transform your life.

Bill Welte

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 10-12; 2 Corinthians 4

Proverbs 4: 20-22 “Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health. GUARD YOUR HEART; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both ides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right or left; leave evil in
the dust.” (THE MESSAGE)

GUARD YOUR HEART
Words and Music By Jon Mohr

What appears to be a harmless glance
Can turn to romance, and home are divided.
Feelings that should never have been
awakened within tearing the heart in two;
Listen, I beg you of you,
Guard your heart,
Guard your heart,
Don’t trade it for treasure,
Don’t give it away.
Guard your heart,
As payment for pleasure — it’s a high price to pay.
For a soul that remains sincere,
with a conscience clear,
Guard your heart!

The human heart is easily swayed,
and often betrayed at the hand of emotion.
You dare not leave the outcome to chance,
We must walk in advance or live with agony.
Guard your heart,
Guard your heart,
Don’t trade it for treasure,
Don’t give it away.
Guard your heart,
As payment for pleasure — it’s a high price to pay.
For a soul that remains sincere,
with a conscience clear,
Guard your heart!

Copyright 1989 Birdwing Music

Good words to ponder today!

I may never be as clever as my neighbor down the street,
I may never be as wealthy as some other men I meet.
I may never have the glory that some other men have had,
But I’ve just got to be successful as that little fellow’s dad.

There are certain dreams I cherish, that I’d like to see come true,
There are thing I would like to do.
There are things I would like to accomplish before my earthly life is through.
But the task I’ve set my heart on is to guide a little lad,
To make myself successful as that little fellow’s dad.

Oh, I may never come to glory, I may never father gold,
And when my business life is over, I may be considered a failure as told.
But the task I’ve set my heart on is to guide a little lad,
To make myself successful as that little fellow’s dad.

It’s the one job that I dream of,
The takes I think of most,
For if I fail that little fellow, I have nothing else to boast.
For the wealth and fame I’d gather,
All my fortune would be sad,
If I fail to be successful as that little fellow’s dad.

— Author Unknown

Good words to ponder today from the book “It’s Easier to Build Boys Than to Mend Men” by S. Truett Cathy

1. That my health AFTER thirty depended in a large degree on what I put into my stomach BEFORE I was twenty-one.
2. How to take care of money.
3. That a man’s habits are mighty hard to change after he is twenty-one.
4. That a harvest depends upon the seeds sown.
5. That worthwhile things require time, patience and work.
6. That you cannot get something for nothing.
7. The folly of not taking older people’s advice.
8. The value of absolute truthfulness in everything.
9. That what Mother wanted me to do was right.
10. Dad wasn’t an old fogy after all.
11. More of the helpful and inspiring messages of the Bible.
12. The greatness of the opportunity and joy of serving a fellow human being.
13. That Jesus Christ wants to be my Savior and friend.

Good stuff to ponder today — from “It’s Better to Build Boys Than Men” by S. Truett Cathy — founder of Chick-fil-A

The Results of Fatherlessness

The United States is the world’s leader in fatherless homes. The results of our actions, according to the FATHER’S MANIFESTO

63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.
90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.
80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes.
71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.
85% of youth in prisons grew up in fatherless homes.
75% of all adolescent patients in drug treatment centers come from fatherless homes.

Children from fatherless homes are:

5 times more likely to commit suicide
32 times more like to runaway
20 times for likely to have behavioral disorders
14 times more likely to commit rape
9 times more likely to drop out of school
10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances
9 times more likely to end up in a state-operated institution
20 times more likely to end up in prison

from “It’s Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men” by S. Truett Cathy founder of Chic-fil-A!

Are you a Dad — there is great responsibility in your God-given role. Think about it!

Understanding the message of the victorious Christian life is sometimes a hard adjustment. It is an adjustment to our thinking to realize that it is IMPOSSIBLE to live the Christian life. We buy into the lie that it is all about WHAT WE do rather than allowing CHRIST to live HIS life through us.

The fruit of the spirit described for us in Galatians 5:22-33 is a perfect description of Jesus Himself. Remember that CHRIST LIVES IN YOU — as we get to know more and more of him, we are being transformed from glory to glory — “But we with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Pastor, author and songwriter, Mike Pilavachi, writes in his book, FOR THE AUDIENCE OF ONE, that “someone said once that we shouldn’t pray, ‘Lord, give me joy, love, peace and patience,’ but we should say ‘Lord, I want more of YOU in me.’ Why wear out ourselves by TRYING desperately to improve OUR levels of self-control when we get the whole package by
being transformed into HIS likeness? THE MORE WE LOOK AT HIM, THE MORE HIS CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY BEGIN TO BE LIVED OUT IN US. ” . . . it is important to not that it is the SPIRIT’S fruit, not OURS . . . fruit trees aren’t exactly flexible when it comes to production; a pear tree won’t produce apples any more than a banana tree will produce lemons. No amount of concentration, hard work, fertilizer will help either tree divert from its genetic script. The fruit of the Spirit is a description of the character of Jesus, and the only person who can bear the fruit of the Spirit is Jesus . . . Only Jesus can tease of the characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, humility, and self-control. And it comes naturally to Him.”

We tend to pray for the fruit and want it NOW! But Pastor Mike Pilavachi reminds us that “growing fruit always takes a full season. You cannot expect the apples to be hours away as soon as the blossom arrives; instead, you need to allow the development to take place over the months and years. Once the period of basking in the summer sun is over, the apples tend to be ready, but only then. It has nothing to do with YOU — only HE can produce the fruit in YOU.”

Good words for you to ponder today.

People are funny when it comes to their grass! I served with an organization for many years and it was the “unpardonable sin” to walk on the grass. It was funny that they built some really nice tennis courts and forgot to put in paths. There were signs leading up to the courts that said: “Do not walk on the grass.” Not sure how you were supposed to get there . . .

One of my friends sent me a photo of a sign he saw in Maine: “GRASS GROWS BY INCHES AND DIES BY FEET … PLEASE STAY ON THE PATH.” That is a really cool sign and reminder for each of us.

The writer of the little book of 1 John wrote in chapter 2:6 “the one who says he abides in Him out to walk in the same manner as He did.” How do we do that? Dr. Warren Wiersbe in his commentary, “BE REAL” says: “Jesus Himself taught the disciples what it means to abide in Him. He explains it in His illustration of the vine and the branches (John 15). Just as the branch gets its life by remaining in contact with the vine, so believers receive their strength by maintaining fellowship with Christ. To abide in Christ means to depend completely on Him for all that we need in order to live for Him and serve Him. It is a living relationship. As He lives out HIS life THROUGH me, we are able to follow His example and walk as He walked.

Christ lives out HIS life THROUGH me by the power of the Spirit who lives within our bodies. It is not by means of IMITATION that we abide in Christ and walk as He walked. No, it is through INCARNATION: through HIS Spirit. ‘CHRIST LIVETH IN ME!’ To walk in the light is to walk in the Spirit and not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).”

Apart from Christ, my friend, IT IS NOT JUST DIFFICULT TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE — IT IS IMPOSSIBLE! He wants to live HIS life THROUGH YOU — “CHRIST IN YOU — THE HOPE OF GLORY.” (Colossians 1:27)

Today, stay of the path — allow Christ to live His life THROUGH you today. Enjoy your Labor Day!